A Study on the Mineral Depletion of the Foods Available to us as a Nation over the Period 1940 to 1991

2003 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Thomas

In 1927 a study at King's College, University of London, of the chemical composition of foods was initiated by Dr McCance to assist with diabetic dietary guidance. The study evolved and was then broadened to determine all the important organic and mineral constituents of foods, it was financed by the Medical Research Council and eventually published in 1940. Over the next 51 years subsequent editions reflected changing national dietary habits and food laws as well as advances in analytical procedures. The most recent (5th Edition) published in 1991 has comprehensively analysed 14 different categories of foods and beverages. In order to provide some insight into any variation in the quality of the foods available to us as a nation between 1940 and 1991 it was possible to compare and contrast the mineral content of 27 varieties of vegetable, 17 varieties of fruit, 10 cuts of meat and some milk and cheese products. The results demonstrate that there has been a significant loss of minerals and trace elements in these foods over that period of time. It is suggested that the results of this study cannot be taken in isolation from recent dietary, environmental and disease trends. These trends are briefly mentioned and suggestions are made as to how the deterioration in the micronutrient quality of our food intake may be arrested and reversed.

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 54-78
Author(s):  
Petr Adamec ◽  
Marián Svoboda

This paper deals with the results of sociological survey focused on identification of the attitudes of elderly people to further education. The research was carried out in September 2010. Experience of elderly people with further education, their readiness (determination) for further education as well as their motivation and barriers in further education were also subjects of this research. Detecting elderly population’s awareness of universities of the third age and finding out their further education preferences were an integral part of the research. Research sample consisted of citizens over 55 years living in the South Moravian region. The survey results are structured by socio-demographic features e.g.: age, sex, educational attainment etc. and provide an interesting insight into the attitudes of the target group to one of the activities that contributes to improvement of their quality of life.


BMC Genomics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory M. Weber ◽  
Jill Birkett ◽  
Kyle Martin ◽  
Doug Dixon ◽  
Guangtu Gao ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Transcription is arrested in the late stage oocyte and therefore the maternal transcriptome stored in the oocyte provides nearly all the mRNA required for oocyte maturation, fertilization, and early cleavage of the embryo. The transcriptome of the unfertilized egg, therefore, has potential to provide markers for predictors of egg quality and diagnosing problems with embryo production encountered by fish hatcheries. Although levels of specific transcripts have been shown to associate with measures of egg quality, these differentially expressed genes (DEGs) have not been consistent among studies. The present study compares differences in select transcripts among unfertilized rainbow trout eggs of different quality based on eyeing rate, among 2 year classes of the same line (A1, A2) and a population from a different hatchery (B). The study compared 65 transcripts previously reported to be differentially expressed with egg quality in rainbow trout. Results There were 32 transcripts identified as DEGs among the three groups by regression analysis. Group A1 had the most DEGs, 26; A2 had 15, 14 of which were shared with A1; and B had 12, 7 of which overlapped with A1 or A2. Six transcripts were found in all three groups, dcaf11, impa2, mrpl39_like, senp7, tfip11 and uchl1. Conclusions Our results confirmed maternal transcripts found to be differentially expressed between low- and high-quality eggs in one population of rainbow trout can often be found to overlap with DEGs in other populations. The transcripts differentially expressed with egg quality remain consistent among year classes of the same line. Greater similarity in dysregulated transcripts within year classes of the same line than among lines suggests patterns of transcriptome dysregulation may provide insight into causes of decreased viability within a hatchery population. Although many DEGs were identified, for each of the genes there is considerable variability in transcript abundance among eggs of similar quality and low correlations between transcript abundance and eyeing rate, making it highly improbable to predict the quality of a single batch of eggs based on transcript abundance of just a few genes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mira Sonneborn-Papakostopoulos ◽  
Clara Dubois ◽  
Viktoria Mathies ◽  
Mara Heß ◽  
Nicole Erickson ◽  
...  

AbstractCancer-related malnutrition has a high prevalence, reduces survival and increases side effects. The aim of this study was to assess oncology outpatients and risk of malnutrition. Reported symptoms and quality of life (QoL) in patients found to be at risk of malnutrition or malnourished were compared to patients without malnutrition. Using a standardized questionnaire, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Questionnaire for Quality of Life and the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), patients in an outpatient cancer clinic undergoing chemotherapy treatment at a German University Hospital were assessed for nutrition, risk of malnutrition and quality of life. Based on the MNA, 39 (45.9%) patients were categorized as malnourished or at risk for malnutrition. Loss of appetite (n = 37.6%, p < 0.001) and altered taste sensation (n = 30,3%, p < 0.001) were the symptoms most frequently associated with reduced food intake. Patients with risk of malnutrition scored lower on the global health status (n = 48.15%, p = 0.001). Side effects of cancer treatments lead to a higher risk of malnutrition and as a consequence lower QoL. These side effects should be addressed more efficiently in cancer care.


2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-86
Author(s):  
Paul Custance ◽  
Keith Walley ◽  
Gaynor Tate ◽  
Goksel Armagan

The purpose of the article is to provide insight into care farming and the role that it may play in agriltural multifunctionality. The paper outlines three case studies of care farming in the UK to compare and contrast the roles that such organizations may play in multifunctional agriculture. Although the work has the obvious limitation of being based on case-study care farms that are based in the UK, the findings are sufficiently generic to serve as valuable learning material for those interested in the subject and located anywhere in the world. The main finding from this study is that care farming can take many different forms but still contribute to agricultural multifunctionality. The study also confirms the important roles that economic support and favourable legislation play in successful care farming. The paper concludes that care farming is a legitimate form of agricultural multifunctionality but reminds those interested in setting up or promoting care farms of the need for a supportive economic and legislative environment. The paper provides contemporary insight into the concept of care farming as a form of agricultural multifunctionality. A number of generic points are made that should be of value to an international audience of academics researching in this area as well as students studying care farming and agricultural multifunctionality, farmers considering diversifying into care farming and politicians working to create a political and economic environment that may support care farms.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 97
Author(s):  
Ružica Dragun ◽  
Nikolina Nika Veček ◽  
Mario Marendić ◽  
Ajka Pribisalić ◽  
Gabrijela Đivić ◽  
...  

Objective: To investigate dietary habits, sleep and psychological well-being of adolescents and medical students during COVID-19 lockdown in Split, Croatia. Methods: We surveyed 1326 students during 2018 and 2019, and compared their responses with 531 students enrolled in May 2020. Perceived stress, quality of life (QoL), happiness, anxiety, and optimism were assessed as proxies of psychological well-being, using general linear modelling. Results: We found no substantial differences in dietary pattern between pre-lockdown and lockdown periods, including the overall Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence. However, the MD pattern changed, showing increased adherence to the MD pyramid for fruit, legumes, fish, and sweets, while cereals, nuts, and dairy intake decreased during COVID-19 lockdown. A third of students reported weight loss during lockdown, 19% reported weight gain, while physical activity remained rather stable. The most prominent change was feeling refreshed after a night’s sleep, reported by 31.5% of students during lockdown vs. 8.5% before; median length of sleep duration increased by 1.5 h. Lockdown significantly affected QoL, happiness, optimism (all p < 0.001), and perceived stress in students (p = 0.005). MD adherence was positively correlated with QoL and study time, and negatively with TV and mobile phone use in pre-lockdown period (all p < 0.001). Interestingly, higher MD adherence was correlated with less perceived hardship and greater happiness and QoL during lockdown. Conclusion: These insights provide valuable information for tailored interventions aimed at maintaining healthy lifestyle in young population. Given the numerous beneficial effects associated with MD adherence, modification of lifestyle through application of lifestyle medicine deserves a priority approach.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Cantarero Arevalo ◽  
S Fejfer Olsen

Abstract Background 16,889 new cases of severe anxiety (SA) were diagnosed in Denmark in 2019. Incidence rate is highest among 16 to 24 year-old women, a population group with 64% risk of being diagnosed with SA. Experiences of stigma and shame are common among this group, affecting negatively their quality of life and opportunity to recover. The aim is 1) to gain insight into the digital narratives young women with SA share through social networking websites, and 2) to open up the possibility to develop new narrative patterns using dialogical research as a method rooted in Bakhtin (1895-1975) and further developed by Frank (2005). Methods Netnography of four large Facebook groups focused on anxiety was used to gain insight into the patients' narratives and to build guiding themes for the off-line dialogical interviews (DI). Biographical narrative patterns were analyzed in light of a narrative-constructivist approach. Participants were invited to sign an informed consent prior to the DI and received ample information about the project aims and their rights. Results 8 young women diagnosed with SA participated in the off-line DI. They had experienced stress, loss, betrayal or violation against them prior to the trigger of SA. All had constructed a narrative that explained why they were suffering from SA. Patient experiences were dominated by the struggle to control intrusive thoughts and to live in a threatening world. Some felt stigmatized and tried to hide their condition from colleagues, friends and family. They had different preferences regarding healthcare needs and were active in their search for alternative ways to cope with SA. Conclusions Participants perceived DI as beneficial. It thus has the potential to not only explore the patient's perspective in depth, but also serve as therapy during the process of inquiry. Key messages Dialogical research has the potential to not only explore the patient’s perspective in depth, but also serve as therapy during the process of inquiry. Young women suffering with severe anxiety experience shame and stigma, which worsen their condiction and hinder their opportunity to recover.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 700.2-700
Author(s):  
G. De Luca ◽  
G. Natalello ◽  
G. Abignano ◽  
C. Campochiaro ◽  
D. Temiz Karadağ ◽  
...  

Background:Gastrointestinal involvement(GI) is a common feature of systemic sclerosis(SSc) and can be highly disabling, representing a major cause of morbidity and reduced quality of life(QoL). The impact of dietary habits on GI symptoms, mood and QoL has not been extensively evaluated.Objectives:To evaluate the adherence to the Mediterranean Diet(MD) in an Italian multicenter cohort of SSc patients, and its impact on GI symptoms and other disease features, depression, anxiety and overall QoL.Methods:Consecutive SSc(ACR/EULAR2013) patients from 4 Italian cohorts were enrolled. Dietary habits and adherence to the MD were assessed using the 14-item MEDAS and QueMD questionnaires. Presence and severity of depressive/anxious symptoms and QoL were evaluated with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS) and the SSc-HAQ(S-HAQ). GI symptoms were assessed with the Reflux Disease Questionnaire(RDQ) and the UCLA SCTC GI Tract 2.0 questionnaire(USG). Associations with patients’ lifestyle, disease characteristics, and nutritional status were explored.Results:265 patients (94.7% females; age 55.8±13.6years; disease duration 9.1±7.0years; diffuse SSc 31.8%; Scl70 + 35.8%;ulcers 23.4%;ILD 29.4%;BMI 23.7±4.4 Kg/m2; obese 11.3%,overweight 23.4%,underweight 4.9%) were enrolled.Overall MD adherence was moderate(7.5±1.9) according to MEDAS and it correlated with QueMD score(4.53±1.96)(R=.371,p<0.001). MD adherence was optimal in 39 patients(14.7%), more frequently from Central-Southern Italy(p=0.036); 189 patients(71.3%) had a good and 37(14.0%) a poor MD adherence.GI symptoms were moderate/severe according to USG in 37(14.0%) patients(USG:0.41±0.40), and heartburn was the most common GI symptom(35.2%). The prevalence of significant anxiety and depression was 24.1% and 17.0%.An inverse correlation was found between MD adherence and mood disturbances at HADS(MEDAS; R=-0.181,p=0.04), work impairment(QueMD;R=-0.247,p=0.005) and reduced QoL, both for GI (constipation at USG: R=-0.133,p=0.032) and general S-HAQ items(bowel:R=-0.181,p=0.04;severity R=-0.202,p=0.01;Raynaud:R=-0.217,p<0.001;ulcers: R=-0.207,p=0.01). MD adherence directly correlated with lung function(MEDAS;R=0.181,p=0.023 for FVC and R=0.170,p=0.03 for DLCO). Patients with MD optimal adherence had lower HADS depression(p=0.04) and S-HAQ scores(HAQ,p=0.04; Raynaud,p=0.005; ulcers,p=0.02) and lower work impairment and lost work time(p=0.03). No significant correlation emerged between MD adherence and BMI, or specific symptoms. Depression and anxiety directly correlated with the severity of reported upper GI symptoms according to both scales (RDQ-GERD:R=0.261,p=0.001; USG:R=0.263,p<0.001) and general S-HAQ items (HAQ: R=0.136,p=0.032;severity R=0.233,p<0.001;bowel: R=0.135,p=0.04;breath: R=0.133,p=0.03; ulcers: R=0.132,p=0.037). Results were confirmed after exclusion of psychiatric(11.7%) and fibromyalgic(15.5%) patients.Conclusion:Unsatisfactory MD adherence is associated with a low mood, impaired QoL, work impairment, GI and vascular symptoms in Italian SSc patients. The promotion of a healthy lifestyle could positively impact on QoL and disease status of SSc patients.References:[1]Gnagnarella P, et a. NMCD 2018. DOI: 10.1016/j.numecd.2018.06.006[2]Jaeger VK et al. PLoS One, 2016.[3]Dinu M et al. Eur J Clin Nutr 2018. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2017.58.[4]Khanna D, et al.Arthritis Rheum. 2009. doi: 10.1002/art.24730.Acknowledgments:GILSDisclosure of Interests:Giacomo De Luca Grant/research support from: SOBI, Speakers bureau: SOBI, Novartis, Pfizer, MSD, Celgene, Gerlando Natalello: None declared, Giuseppina Abignano: None declared, Corrado Campochiaro Speakers bureau: Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, GSK, SOBI, Duygu Temiz Karadağ: None declared, Maria De Santis: None declared, Elisa Gremese Speakers bureau: Abbvie, BMS, Celgene, Jannsen, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Sandoz, UCB, Silvia Laura Bosello Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Pfizer, Boehringer, Lorenzo Dagna Grant/research support from: Abbvie, BMS, Celgene, Janssen, MSD, Mundipharma Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, SG, SOBI, Consultant of: Abbvie, Amgen, Biogen, BMS, Celltrion, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, SG, and SOBI


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 1766
Author(s):  
Igor Koch ◽  
Mathias Duwe ◽  
Jakob Flury ◽  
Akbar Shabanloui

During its science phase from 2002–2017, the low-low satellite-to-satellite tracking mission Gravity Field Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) provided an insight into Earth’s time-variable gravity (TVG). The unprecedented quality of gravity field solutions from GRACE sensor data improved the understanding of mass changes in Earth’s system considerably. Monthly gravity field solutions as the main products of the GRACE mission, published by several analysis centers (ACs) from Europe, USA and China, became indispensable products for quantifying terrestrial water storage, ice sheet mass balance and sea level change. The successor mission GRACE Follow-On (GRACE-FO) was launched in May 2018 and proceeds observing Earth’s TVG. The Institute of Geodesy (IfE) at Leibniz University Hannover (LUH) is one of the most recent ACs. The purpose of this article is to give a detailed insight into the gravity field recovery processing strategy applied at LUH; to compare the obtained gravity field results to the gravity field solutions of other established ACs; and to compare the GRACE-FO performance to that of the preceding GRACE mission in terms of post-fit residuals. We use the in-house-developed MATLAB-based GRACE-SIGMA software to compute unconstrained solutions based on the generalized orbit determination of 3 h arcs. K-band range-rates (KBRR) and kinematic orbits are used as (pseudo)-observations. A comparison of the obtained solutions to the results of the GRACE-FO Science Data System (SDS) and Combination Service for Time-variable Gravity Fields (COST-G) ACs, reveals a competitive quality of our solutions. While the spectral and spatial noise levels slightly differ, the signal content of the solutions is similar among all ACs. The carried out comparison of GRACE and GRACE-FO KBRR post-fit residuals highlights an improvement of the GRACE-FO K-band ranging system performance. The overall amplitude of GRACE-FO post-fit residuals is about three times smaller, compared to GRACE. GRACE-FO post-fit residuals show less systematics, compared to GRACE. Nevertheless, the power spectral density of GRACE-FO and GRACE post-fit residuals is dominated by similar spikes located at multiples of the orbital and daily frequencies. To our knowledge, the detailed origin of these spikes and their influence on the gravity field recovery quality were not addressed in any study so far and therefore deserve further attention in the future. Presented results are based on 29 monthly gravity field solutions from June 2018 until December 2020. The regularly updated LUH-GRACE-FO-2020 time series of monthly gravity field solutions can be found on the website of the International Centre for Global Earth Models (ICGEM) and in LUH’s research data repository. These operationally published products complement the time series of the already established ACs and allow for a continuous and independent assessment of mass changes in Earth’s system.


Radiocarbon ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Alyssa M Tate ◽  
Brittany Hundman ◽  
Jonathan Heile

ABSTRACT Leather has been produced by a variety of methods throughout human history, providing researchers unique insight into multiple facets of social and economic life in the past. Archaeologically recovered leather is often fragile and poorly preserved, leading to the use of various conservation and restoration efforts that may include the application of fats, oils, or waxes. Such additives introduce exogenous carbon to the leather, contaminating the specimen. These contaminants, in addition to those accumulated during interment, must be removed through chemical pretreatment prior to radiocarbon (14C) dating to ensure accurate dating. DirectAMS utilizes organic solvents, acid-base-acid (ABA) and gelatinization for all leather samples. Collagen yield from leather samples is variable due to the method of production and the quality of preservation. However, evaluating the acid-soluble collagen fraction, when available, provides the most accurate 14C dates for leather samples. In instances where gelatinization does not yield sufficient material, the resulting acid-insoluble fraction may be dated. Here we examine the effectiveness of the combined organic solvent and ABA pretreatment with gelatinization for leather samples, as well as the suitability of the acid-insoluble fraction for 14C dating.


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